small caps. In those five preeminent letters what a world of bitterness is there not involved!
But “Oppodeldoc” was punished with equal severity in the Rowdy-Dow , which spoke thus:
“We have received a most singular and insolent communication from a person (whoever he is) signing himself ‘Oppodeldoc’—thus desecrating the greatness of the illustrious Roman Emperor so named. Accompanying the letter of ‘Oppodeldoc’ (whoever he is) we find sundry lines of most disgusting and unmeaning rant about ‘angels and ministers of grace’—rant such as no madman short of a Nat Lee, or an ‘Oppodeldoc,’ could possibly perpetrate. And for this trash of trash, we are modestly requested to ‘pay promptly.’ No sir—no! We pay for nothing of that sort. Apply to the Hum-Drum , the Lollipop , or the Goosetherumfoodle . These periodicals will undoubtedly accept any literary offal you may send them—and as undoubtedly promise to pay for it.”
This was bitter indeed upon poor “Oppodeldoc”; but, in this instance, the weight of the satire falls upon the Hum-Drum , the Lollipop , and the Goosetherumfoodle , who are pungently styled “ periodicals ”—in Italics, too—a thing that must have cut them to the heart.
Scarcely less savage was the Lollipop , which thus discoursed:
“Some individual , who rejoices in the appellation ‘Oppodeldoc,’ (to what low uses are the names of the illustrious dead too often applied!) has enclosed us some fifty or sixty verses commencing after this fashion: “ ‘Oppodeldoc’ (whoever he is) is respectfully informed that there is not a printer’s devil in our office who is not in